U.S. patent application number 11/421249 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-07 for light-emitting component with an arrangement of electrodes.
This patent application is currently assigned to NOVALED AG. Invention is credited to Jan Birnstock, Sven Murano.
Application Number | 20060273310 11/421249 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35414603 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060273310 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Birnstock; Jan ; et
al. |
December 7, 2006 |
Light-Emitting Component with an Arrangement of Electrodes
Abstract
The invention concerns a light-emitting component with an
arrangement of electrodes for applying an electrical voltage to
multiple organic areas, which form a light-emitting area, are
distributed across a component surface and which each emit light
when the electrical voltage is applied, in which the multiple
organic areas are arranged between a flat-formed electrode and a
flat-formed counter-electrode, where the electrode consists of a
part electrode and an additional part electrode, which is
electrically isolated from the part electrode and is formed so that
it interlocks with it, where the electrode and the
counter-electrode are formed so that they do not overlap outside
the light-emitting area when looking towards the component
surface.
Inventors: |
Birnstock; Jan; (Dresden,
DE) ; Murano; Sven; (Dresden, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP
999 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E.
ATLANTA
GA
30309
US
|
Assignee: |
NOVALED AG
Tatzberg 49
Dresden
DE
|
Family ID: |
35414603 |
Appl. No.: |
11/421249 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
257/40 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 2251/564 20130101;
H01L 27/3204 20130101; H01L 27/3211 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
257/040 |
International
Class: |
H01L 29/08 20060101
H01L029/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 1, 2005 |
EP |
050 11 772.0 |
Claims
1. Light-emitting component with an electrode arrangement for the
application of an electrical voltage to multiple organic areas,
which form a light-emitting area and are distributed across a
component surface and which each emit light when the electric
current is applied, in which the multiple organic areas are
arranged between a flat-formed electrode and a flat-formed
counter-electrode, where the electrode consists of a part electrode
and an additional part electrodes, which is electrically isolated
from the part electrode and formed to interlock with it, where the
electrode, and counter-electrode are formed so that they do not
overlap each other outside the light-emitting area when looking
towards the component surface.
2. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the
counter-electrode has a part counter-electrode and an additional
part counter-electrode, which is electrically isolated from the
part counter-electrode and interlocks with it, and that the part
electrode and the additional part electrode, and the part
counter-electrode and the additional part counter-electrode, are
arranged opposite each other when looking towards the component
surface.
3. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the part
electrode and the additional part electrode are each in contact
with two different organic areas out of the multiple organic
areas.
4. Light-emitting component according to claim 3, wherein the two
different organic areas are formed so that they emit light of
different colors.
5. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the part
electrode and the additional part counter-electrode are formed so
that they overlap, at least partially, within the light-emitting
area when looking towards the component surface.
6. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the
additional part-electrode and the part counter-electrode are each
in contact with precisely one of the organic areas.
7. Light-emitting component according to claim 3, wherein the
precisely one organic area emits light, which differs from the
light, which is omitted by the two different organic areas.
8. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the
electrode electrode sections of the part electrode and electrode
sections of the additional part electrode are arranged offset to
one another having a gap in between when looking towards the
component surface.
9. Light-emitting component according to claim 2, wherein the
counter-electrode, electrode sections of the part counter-electrode
and electrode sections of the additional part counter-electrode are
arranged offset to one another having a gap in between when looking
towards the component surface.
10. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the
electrode and/or the counter-electrode has strip-formed electrode
sections.
11. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the
electrode and/or the counter-electrode are each formed in a single
layer.
12. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the
electrode and/or the counter-electrode are distributed across
multiple layers.
13. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the
electrode and/or the counter-electrode within the light-emitting
area are formed to substantially overlap the organic areas
completely within the light-emitting area.
14. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the part
electrode and the additional part electrode, and the part
counter-electrode and the additional part counter-electrode
interlock with each other in the form of a comb.
15. Light-emitting component according to claim 1, wherein the
multiple organic areas have an aggregate white light emission
spectrum.
16. Light-emitting component with an electrode arrangement for
applying an electrical voltage to multiple organic areas, which are
arranged between a flat-formed electrode and a flat-formed
counter-electrode of the electrode arrangement and emit light when
the electrical voltage is applied, where an arrangement of multiple
series circuits is formed, in which: the electrode is formed as
multiple strip segments arranged adjacent to each other, and the
counter-electrode is segmented; the multiple organic areas are each
connected to multiple strip segments of the electrodes; and by the
segmented counter-electrodes, each of the organic areas is
connected to one adjacent strip segment, which is arranged adjacent
to one of the multiple strip segments, so that one part of the
multiple organic areas is connected to one adjacent strip segment
on one side and another part of the organic areas is connected to
an adjacent strip segment on an opposite side.
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a light-emitting component with an
arrangement of electrodes for applying an electric current to
multiple organic areas, which form a light-emitting area, are
distributed across a component surface and which each emit light
when the electric current is applied, and in which the multiple
organic areas are arranged between a flat-formed electrode and a
flat-formed counter-electrode.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Document DE 101 45 492 A1 describes a light-emitting
component with a light-emitting organic area, which produces white
light by means of OLED (OLED--organic light-emitting diode)
substructures, for example, in the form of flat-formed points or
strips, which generate white light on different wavelengths, and by
means of an adjacent diffuser. The OLED substructures are contacted
by using separate electrodes and actuated by means of a voltage
source, by which means an optimised mixture of the different
colours may be achieved.
[0003] A procedure for manufacturing such a light-emitting
component necessarily requires process stages, for example masking
stages, to make possible the deposition of different materials on
the substructure of the substrate. In addition, the structure of
the substrate may be more complex than is the case with common
white OLEDs, which emit white light directly. Nevertheless, the
approach to generating white light on the basis of mixing light
radiated from the substructures, which emit light on different
wavelengths, has a significant advantage, namely the possibility of
setting an aggregate mixed colour for the light emitted by means of
a deliberate variation in the voltage or current supplied to the
OLED substructures.
[0004] Should, for example, white light be produced by using red,
green and blue OLED substructures, all the colour coordinates
located within the triangle, which are covered by the individual
colours on the CIE colour chart are fundamentally obtainable. If
light from two different OLED substructures is mixed, e.g. from
substructures, which emit yellow and blue light, all the points
located on a line between the individual colour dots are
accessible. Such a straight line ideally runs largely parallel to
the curve of a black emitter, allowing the colour temperature to be
set across a wide area. Such a possibility is particularly
desirable for applications in the field of lighting technology, as
it makes it possible for the user to adjust the light source
individually, according to his wishes.
[0005] However, a disadvantage of such OLED-based white light
generation is that the use of OLED substructures entails increased
production costs compared to other OLED lighting designs, which
dispense with additional structuring in the production of OLED
illumination. This is disadvantageous to the commercial use of such
lighting components.
[0006] As well as the aforementioned costs of additional
structuring of the substrate and the additional process stages, it
is also necessary to address the individual colours and thus the
corresponding substructures. In this connection, the state of the
art anticipates that an electrode used for actuation in OLED
components be structured, for example, in the form of transparent
ITO strips, which are then connected individually to a driver,
similar to the case for a passive matrix display element. However,
such an approach requires a connecting step for bonding during
manufacture, for example by means of adhesive. This is usually a
light-precision process, using, for example, alignment under a
microscope. High temperatures are also usually required for
bonding.
[0007] The use of a common connection for OLED substructures of the
same type, which are formed in strips and emit light on the same
wavelength, whilst different types of strip are connected
separately, is therefore proposed in documents DE 199 16 745 A1 and
DE 101 45 492 A1. Provision may be made for structuring the strip
structure of the OLED substructures appropriately to actuate the
electrodes used.
[0008] An organic light-emitting component is also described in the
document US 2002/0084993 A1 in which organic areas in strip form,
located between two electrodes, are connected to electrode sections
in strip form through which an electrical voltage is applied to
actuate the organic areas. Different voltages are applied to
electrode sections in strip form in order to actuate the respective
corresponding organic area.
[0009] A visual display unit based on light-emitting components is
described in document EP 1 018 718 A1, in which multiple organic
areas are arranged between a flat-formed electrode and a
flat-formed counter-electrode, which emit light in three different
colours when a voltage is applied to the electrode and
counter-electrode, as is usual for visual display units.
[0010] Outside the area of the component formed by the multiple
organic areas, parts of the electrode and counter-electrode are
permanently electrically isolated by layers of insulation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The invention is based on the problem of creating a
light-emitting component with an electrode arrangement for
actuating multiple organic areas, each of which emits light when an
electrical voltage is applied to the electrode arrangement, where
it should be possible to manufacture the electrode arrangement in
as few process stages and in as little space as possible.
[0012] This problem is solved according to the invention by a
light-emitting component according to independent claims 1 and 16.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention form the subject of
dependent sub-claims.
[0013] According to one aspect of the invention a light-emitting
component is provided with an electrode arrangement for the
application of an electrical voltage to multiple organic areas,
which form a light-emitting area and are distributed across a
component surface and which each emit light when the electric
current is applied, in which the multiple organic areas are
arranged between a flat-formed electrode and a flat-formed
counter-electrode, where the electrode consists of a par electrode
and an additional part electrode, which is electrically isolated
from the part electrode and formed to interlock with it, where the
electrode and counter-electrode are formed so that they do not
overlap each other outside the light-emitting area when looking
towards the component surface.
[0014] According to the invention, outside the light-emitting area
a non-overlapping configuration of the electrode and
counter-electrode is provided.
[0015] Another aspect of the invention is the creation of a
light-emitting component with an electrode arrangement for applying
an electrical voltage to multiple organic areas, which are arranged
between a flat-formed electrode and a flat-formed counter electrode
of the electrode arrangement and each of which emits light when the
electrical voltage is applied, where an arrangement of multiple
series circuits of light-emitting organic components is formed, in
which [0016] the electrode is formed of multiple strip segments,
which are arranged adjacent to each other, and the
counter-electrode is segmented; [0017] the multiple organic areas
are each connected to one of the multiple strip segments of the
electrode; and [0018] the organic areas are each connected by the
segmented counter-electrode to an adjacent strip segment, which is
arranged adjacent to one of the multiple strip segments, so that
one part of the multiple organic areas is connected to an adjacent
strip segment on one side and another part of the organic areas is
connected to an adjacent strip segment on the opposite side.
[0019] A major advantage which the invention achieves over the
state of the art is that the manufacture of components with organic
light-emitting substructures for generating light in different
colours is significantly simplified. The yield can also be
increased. These advantages entail a reduction in manufacturing
costs. Electrical contacting is also simplified. Process stages can
be waived, saving costs. In particular, unlike the state of the
art, the process stage for producing one or more layers of
insulation between the electrode and the counter-electrode can be
waived.
[0020] In a practical further development of the invention, the
counter-electrode has a part counter-electrode and an additional
pan counter-electrode, which is electrically isolated from the part
counter-electrode and interlocks with its and that the part
electrode and the additional part electrode, and the part
counter-electrode and additional part counter-electrode, are each
arranged opposite each other when looking towards the component
surface.
[0021] An advantageous embodiment of the invention, the part
electrode and the additional part counter-electrode are each in
contact with two different organic areas out of the multiple
organic areas.
[0022] A further development of the invention preferably provides
for the two different organic areas to be formed so that they emit
light of different colours.
[0023] A preferred advanced development of the invention can
provide for the part electrode and the additional part
counter-electrode being formed so that they overlap, at least
partially, within the light-emitting area when looking towards the
component surface.
[0024] A practical further development of the invention provides
for the additional part electrode and the part counter-electrode
each being in contact with precisely one of the organic areas.
[0025] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for
precisely one organic area to emit light which is different from
the light which is emitted from the two different organic
areas.
[0026] A further development of the invention preferably provides
for electrode sections of the part electrode and electrode sections
of the additional part electrode being arranged offset when looking
towards the component surface having a gap in between.
[0027] A preferred advanced development of the invention may
provide for, in the counter-electrode, electrode sections of the
part counter-electrode and electrode sections of the additional
part counter-electrode being arranged offset to one another having
a gap in between when looking towards the component surface.
[0028] A practical further development of the invention provides
for the electrode and/or the counter-electrode having electrode
sections in the form of a strip.
[0029] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that
the electrode and/or the counter-electrode are each formed in a
single layer.
[0030] A further development of the invention provides for the
electrode and/or counter-electrode being distributed over multiple
layers.
[0031] A preferred advanced embodiment of the invention may provide
that the electrode and/or counter-electrode are formed so that they
largely overlap the organic areas within the light-emitting
area.
[0032] A practical further development of the invention provides
for the part electrode and the additional part electrode, and the
part counter-electrode and additional part counter-electrode,
interlocking with each other in the form of a comb.
[0033] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for the
multiple organic areas to have an aggregate white light emission
spectrum.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The invention is explained in more detail below by means of
embodiment examples, with reference to the drawings, wherein:
[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a light-emitting
component with multiple organic areas, which are distributed across
a component surface and which each emit light in two different
colours when an electrical voltage is applied, where part
electrodes of the electrode are formed so that they do not overlap
when looking towards the component surface;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an arrangement of
multiple organic areas for a light-emitting component;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of
multiple organic areas according to FIG. 2, where a lower electrode
is formed with two non-overlapping part electrodes;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of
multiple organic areas according to FIG. 2, where an upper
electrode with two non-overlapping part electrodes is formed;
and
[0039] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an electrode
arrangement and multiple organic areas for a light-emitting
component, where an arrangement with multiple series circuits of
organic light-emitting components is formed.
[0040] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an electrode for a
light-emitting component in which light-emitting organic areas are
actuated through the electrode, by the application of an electrical
voltage. The electrode includes two flat-formed part electrodes 1,
2, which are formed in layers adjacent to each other. Above the two
part electrodes 1, 2, a light-emitting area 4 is formed as a layer,
which has multiple organic layers, which are themselves distributed
across a component surface 5 and which emit light when an
electrical voltage is applied. In the embodiment shown, the
light-emitting area 4 comprises two organic areas with different
structures, each of which emits light in a certain colour. A
flat-formed counter-electrode 6 is arranged above the
light-emitting area 4.
[0041] By applying an electrical voltage to the electrode, which
comprises the part electrodes 1, 2 and the counter-electrode 6, an
electrical voltage is applied to the multiple organic areas in the
light-emitting area 4, so that light is emitted. Two different
organic areas are formed, which differ in their material
composition so that they emit light in different colours.
[0042] Electrode sections 7, 8 are each provided on both part
electrodes 1, 2, which are formed on a connecting section 10, 11
comprised in the respective part electrode 1, 2 and which are
arranged offset when looking towards the component surface having a
gap in between. The electrode sections 7 of part electrode 1 are
connected by one type of organic area which emits light in a first
colour. The electrode sections 8 of part electrode 2 are connected
by a second type of organic area, which emits light in a second
colour. According to FIG. 1, pall electrodes 1, 2 do not overlap
when looking towards the component surface 5.
[0043] According to FIG. 1, the two part electrodes 1, 2 are not
formed so that they overlap when looking towards the component
surface 5. This makes it possible to form the part electrodes 1, 2
in two separate layers or alternatively in one common layer during
manufacture. The electrode sections 7, 8 mutually interlock in the
comb-formed part electrodes 1, 2. This supports the space-saving
embodiment of part electrodes 1, 2. Above the part electrodes 1, 2,
the organic areas of different types may be actuated separately to
emit light.
[0044] In addition, it emerges from FIG. 1 that the electrode
consisting of the two part electrodes 1, 2 and the
counter-electrode 6 do not overlap outside the light-emitting area
4 when looking towards the component surface 5. It is therefore not
necessary to provide one or more layers of insulation between the
electrodes.
[0045] It is also possible to form a light-emitting component, for
example in strip form, free of insulation layers, which, unlike the
embodiment according to FIG. 1, has more than two different types
of organic area, as is known from the state of the art. FIGS. 2 to
4 show such an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation
of an arrangement of three organic areas 60, 61, 62, which form a
light-emitting area 40, comparable to the light-emitting area 4 in
FIG. 1. In this case, the embodiment example shown involves organic
areas, which emit red, green and blue light.
[0046] According to FIG. 3, an arrangement of two lower part
electrodes 64, 65 is formed as flat-formed lower electrode 63, in
which the strip-formed electrode sections 66, 67 are arranged so
that they interlock and are offset when looking towards the
component surface having a gap in between. In this case, provision
is made for the electrode sections 66 of the lower part electrode
64 to extend across two organic areas 60, 61 and be electrically
connected to them, where a basic surface of the electrode sections
66 overlaps the basic area of the organic areas 60, 61, at least in
partial areas. Operating voltages U0 and U1 are applied to the
lower part electrodes 64, 65 according to FIG. 3.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the arrangement of multiple
organic areas according to FIG. 2, where a flat-formed upper
electrode 70 is formed with two non-overlapping part electrodes 71,
72. Electrode sections 73 of the upper part electrode 72 are
connected to the two organic areas 61, 62, whereas strip-formed
electrode sections 74 of the upper part electrode 71 are
electrically connected to the organic areas 60. Operating voltages
U2 and U3 are applied to the upper part electrodes 71, 72 in
accordance with FIG. 4.
[0048] Using the electrode layout according to FIGS. 3 and 4 in the
arrangement of organic areas according to FIG. 2 ensures that the
same voltage is applied to all the organic areas of the same type,
whilst the operating voltages for the three different types of
organic area differ. An operating voltage of U0-U2 is applied to
all organic areas 60. In contrast, all organic areas 62 are
supplied with operating voltage U1-U3. Finally, an operating
voltage of U0-U3 is applied to organic areas 61.
[0049] By using the same design principle as explained in
connection with FIGS. 2 to 4, an electrode arrangement for
supplying voltage to a light-emitting area with four different
types of organic area may also be formed, without an insulating
layer in the area of the upper aid/or lower electrode being
required to isolate part electrodes. In such an embodiment, each
electrode section of the part electrodes in the upper and lower
electrodes is electrically connected to two different types of
organic area respectively. For example, the following operating
voltages may be used to supply the different organic areas with
different operating voltages, where the same operating voltage is
applied to organic areas of the same type: U0-U2, U0-U3, U1-U2 and
U1-U3. All four operating voltages may be selected freely and
independently of each other.
[0050] In the embodiment examples in FIGS. 1 to 4, the organic
areas to be actuated are strip-formed. The corresponding electrode
sections are therefore also formed as strips. The design principles
explained for forming the flat-formed electrodes can, however, be
transferred to light-emitting components with organic areas formed
in other ways, e.g. for organic areas, which have a round basic
surface or are formed as zigzag lines. A space-saving electrode
arrangement can also be produced at low cost in such components by
using the invention.
[0051] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of an electrode
arrangement and multiple organic areas for a light-emitting
component, in which an arrangement with multiple series circuits of
organic light-emitting components is formed. Even such a
complicated arrangement can be achieved without the additional
application of a layer of insulation for insolating part electrodes
by using the design principles described above, FIG. 5 shows two
different types of organic area, "b" and "y", which emit light in
two different colours. An upper electrode 80 and a lower electrode
81 are formed, between which the organic light-emitting areas are
arranged. The two voltages U1 and U2 are applied.
[0052] The lower electrode 81 is divided into strip-formed
segments, which are not electrically connected. OLED segments 40
are divided into the organic areas "b" and "y" which emit light in
different colours. The upper electrode 80 comprises segments, which
are applied offset from OLED segments by making contact between the
upper electrode 80 and an adjacent strip of the lower electrode 81.
The upper electrode 80 of the organic areas "y" thereby contacts
the respective strip-formed segment of the lower electrode 81
arranged underneath in FIG. 6, whilst the upper electrode 80 of
organic areas "b" contacts the respective strip-formed segment of
the lower electrode 81 arranged on top in FIG. 5. This places the
individual organic areas in series, where the polarity of the
light-emitting organic areas "b" and "y" is respectively opposed
under the condition that they have the same orientation in respect
of the preferred charge transfer from the diodes to the substrate,
the polarity being reversed for the voltages U1 and U2
respectively. Thus, when a voltage U1, U2 is applied, either the
organic area "b" or the organic area "y" is supplied with a voltage
in the forward, i.e. operating, direction, but the organic areas
emitting light of a different colour are supplied in the reverse
direction. If the potential is reversed, the respective other
organic areas are correspondingly supplied with a voltage in the
operating or reverse direction.
[0053] Square-wave voltage pulses may be used. Only the organic
areas "b" will then light in the forward direction. The organic
areas "y" will light in the reverse direction. Brightness and
colour may be adjusted by varying the length and amplitude of the
square-wave voltage pulses. By means of the arrangement, series
circuits of light-emitting organic components are created so that
the entire component will not fail if one light-emitting area
fails.
[0054] In addition, the strip arrangement of electrode 81 ensures
that the current will flow through another series circuit if there
is an interruption to one of the series circuits. This means that
only one organic area of the component will fail, whilst the
remaining are continue to function.
[0055] In one embodiment, provision may be made for exchanging
electrodes 80, 81, so that electrode 80 forms the lower electrode
and electrode 81 forms the upper electrode.
[0056] The embodiment of a light-emitting component described with
reference to FIG. 5 is useable as an independent principle, as well
as a possible combination with the embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 4. In
all the embodiments, structures with electrode arrangements are
created, which are used to actuate organic areas, which are capable
of emitting light in different colours. In the light-emitting
components, overlapping areas of the electrodes provided are
minimised or even avoided completely, with the exception of
sections in which electrical contact is desired.
[0057] The characteristics of the invention disclosed in the above
description, may be significant to implementation of the invention
in its various embodiments, either individually or in any
combination.
* * * * *